Blandford forum is a small Georgian market town set along side the middle reaches of the Dorset Stour.
The Blandford & District Angling Club is the Fishing club that controls the majority of the fishing on the River around the town. The Blandford & District Angling Clubwas founded in 1954. It is a small club that controls only a few miles of the River Stour but for the price of an Annual season ticket at only £32 the quality of the fishing at your disposal really is a bargain.
The club offers some excellent fishing for all coarse species and around the town and at Buggs water their are some very good Brown trout to be had on the fly. Buggs water is one of the Four club owned stretches available to fish as a Blandford & District Angling Club member. Other venues are Nutford, France Farm and my own Personal favourite The Crown Meadows. The Crown Meadows like the other venues has a good head of Coarse fish including Perch, Dace, Roach, Pike,Tench, Grayling and some very large Chub. But i myself look forward each year to targeting the shoals of large Bream. There are some huge shoals of Bream in the stretch known as 'The Populars' My own record from there is a fish of 8lb14 oz but the club record stands at over 9lb and i am sure it will soon fall as many of the fish are now approaching Double figures! I myself caught over 150lb in one night last season with not one fish under 6lb, I also had a 7lb Chub it was one of my best sessions of the year.
Another attraction of The Crown Meadows is the possibility of catching one of the huge River Carp that swim in its waters. The club record for Common Carp stands at 28lb 12oz But i know that bigger fish are present. These fish see little or know pressure due to the club only having around 60 members annually. I won't go into too much detail as i fish the stretch regularly myself and don't need competition.
The Blandford & District Angling Club does not at present hold the rights to any lakes. But it does have a number of swap books with other clubs. This is an agreement that lets Blandford & District Angling Club members swap there book temporarily with other local clubs giving them access to fish that clubs waters. Swap books are available with these clubs Dorchester Fishing Club, Tisbury Angling Club, Wimbourne & District Angling Club and Test Valley Angling Club this gives all members the opportunity to fish a vast amount of different lakes and rivers as well as the clubs own venues all for just £32
Membership costs for The Blandford & District angling Club
Adults £34
Seniors £20
Juniors £10
Day tickets £4
Night Tickets £10 (24 hours)
Membership and Day Tickets are available from the local tackle shop Conyers which is in the town centre.
I personally think that £32 is great value for the fishing on offer. Not only does the Blandford & District Angling club have big Bream the clubs waters also hold Chub to 8lb and 2lb+ Roach there are also Perch to 4lb and Pike well over 20lbs.
If you like the sound of it visit Conyers and get your ticket and I may see you on the bank.
Conyers Tackle and Guns, 3 west Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset
Tel (01258 452307)
